Question: Upgrading Windows 98 to Second Edition using Full Install disc

[Gorby911]

I am trying to install windows 98 second edition using "for PCs without Windows" cd. It gives me an error message that I can't use this CD to update my current windows 98 to second edition using this cd. It says that I need to obtain "upgrade cd". I am wondering if there is a way to "fool" the installation into thinking that I don't have Win98 installed already. Anyone knows how to do that? It has to check one or two files... but I donno which ones. I don't want to delete the whole Windows directory and install Win98 SE. Please help if you know a work around.

Thanks.

 

[Noriaki]

Have you tried running setup from DOS mode? and from within Windows?

That's funny just the other day when I was running Win98SE, I put a Win2k full CD in and it autoplayed and asked me if I wanted to upgrade....it should work....

 

[Gorby911]

Ok, clarification: I have Windows 98 (not second edition) installed now. I need to upgrade to WIndows 98 Second Edition. I have a windows 98 SE full CD. When I try to upgrade from both windows and DOS environments I get a message that I can't upgrade my current version (Win98) to Win98 SE using this CD I need an upgrade CD instead of this one. So I am not upgrading to Win2000.

 

[Noriaki]

Oh no..I knew you weren't upgrading to Win2000...I just meant that it offered to update from a full CD for me.

So you've tried windows and dos eh?

Try renaming the Windows folder to something else (from DOS), or try just del *.* from in hte Windows directory.

that should be pretty quick, and then let you reinstall. You won't loose all your cookies or start menu options setup or book marks or anything like that.

 

[Gorby911]

I don't want to delete *.* from Windows because I'll loose all the programs that I already have and I think I will loose cookies, bookmarks, etc. I may try renaming it I guess... but definately not delete it.

 

[Motorheader]

Copy the Win98 directory from your SE CD to your HD.

Restart your computer.

At the "starting windows 98 line" hit the F8 key and go to the boot menu.

Choose "safe mode command prompt only" and hit enter.

Type cd windows and hit enter key

Type ren win.com wincom.org and hit enter key

Type cd\win98 ( the directory you copied to the HD ) and hit enter key

Type setup /p j and hit enter key

Setup will start - watch to make sure the path goes to C:\WINDOWS and not C:\Windows.000 ( just change it by hitting the end key and backspacing 4 times to get it to say C:\Windows )

It works and you should be running in about 20-30 minutes.

 

[Gorby911]

I am gonna try it right now. Thanks a lot!!! Hope it works

 

[Noriaki]

Deleting the stuff just in your windows directory won't hurt any of your cookies, bookmarks or other programs

none of that in is C:\Windows

You leave all the sub directories alone.

But it appears that it's just win.com you need to nuke anywyas.

 

[reefguy]

Rename the file WIN.COM to WIN.CCC
Then run the SETUP from within windows from the CD.

Had this same question about three weeks ago. I needed to re-install my OS and the only thing I had becasue of damage was a full install CD of SE to try to upgrade my 98(1st ed)

 

[Gorby911]

Thanks everyone for your help. System is up and running